Bolivia agrees gas talks

Protests took place amid a heavy military presence

The Bolivian Government says it is willing to discuss plans to export natural gas, amid a series of protests against the proposals.

The government is launching an information campaign to explain the different aspects of the project, spokesman for the presidency Mauricio Antezana told the BBC.

Bolivia has the largest reserves of natural gas in Latin America and is in talks with the United States and Mexico on possible exports.

Opponents to the plans say the gas should be used to supply thousands of homes in Bolivia before any of it is sent abroad.

The leader of the main opposition party, Evo Morales, called a day of nationwide protests on Friday which took place amid a heavy military presence.

No referendum

On Monday, indigenous Aymara Indians had blocked major roads linking the country's capital - La Paz - with other towns in Bolivia and also with neighbouring Chile and Peru.

Some demonstrators are also protesting against the intention to export the gas through ports in Chile which belonged to Bolivia until a war in 1879.

The government has ruled out holding a referendum on the issue.

Correspondents say that Bolivia's failure to export its gas abroad would not only starve this desperately poor country of much needed cash, it would also alienate foreign investors who have pumped about $2.5bn into Bolivia's gas projects.